Chess Puzzle #459sf — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king a1; queen a4; rook d1; knights d6/e5; pawns a2/b2/d4/f2. Black: king b8; queen g7; rook c7; bishop e4; knight f6; pawns a7/b6/e6/g6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Bc2 — bishop e4→c2. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Nc6+ — knight e5→c6, gives check. Opponent replies Rxc6 (rook c7→c6, captures knight).
3. Best move: Qxc6 — queen a4→c6, captures rook. Opponent replies Qc7 (queen g7→c7).
4. Best move: Qxc7+ — queen c6→c7, captures queen, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, long, middlegame, queenside attack. The key move Qxc7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 1k6/p1r3q1/1p1Npnp1/4N3/Q2Pb3/8/PP3P2/K2R4 b - - 8 28

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